Turnstile



Oct. 14,1941. R, F KELKERy JR i 2,258,896

TURNSTILE Filed May 15, 1939 l vr 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

'BYlo-oz y Patented Oct. 14, 1941 I-'TED 'STATES OFFICE y TJJRNSHLE l nadelen n. sterker, n., Evanston, 1111.

.Application May 13, 1939, ,'SerialiNo. .273,471 y 13 claims, (o1. ssa- 3) This invention relates :to gates ofthe turnstiletype, and Lmore specifically to a twin gate structure ofsuch type.

Gates Acomprising turnstiles rotatable .fon-,ly one way are yfamiliarlyemployed -for pont/rolling exits from subways and 'other vpremises where it is desired to prevent entrance Vthrough the exits. In connection with the installation-of such gates, the matter ,of space consumption is Aan important item. This vis particularly true in the caseof subway stations, where ground area s expensive and where the cost of an exit structure, including foundation, floor and roof or other overhead structure, depends largely upon the number of cubic -feetin the structure.

In many situations the available Vwidth of space for exits is restricted, so tha-t whether or `not turnstiles may be utilized in Isuiicient number for reasonably convenient accommodation 4of traic during busy periods will depend upon whether they .can fbe placed in such restricted width of space.

Having in view, therefore, the desirability of space conservation in a plurality of turnstile gates, I have `provided a twin `gate structure wherein two turnstiles occupy only about two thirds of the space or substantially less space than would ordinarily be required for two vturnstile gates; with the effects, among others, of

making possible important savings in `construction costs of exi-t structures, as well as permitting utilization of such twin gate structure in-locations too narrow for .twoordinary turnstile gates.

Further advantages of a .structure embodying the invention are that it yis convenient vin use, and of practicable and economicalcharacter, the amount of construction materials required therefor being somewhat less than would ordinarily be required for the construction `of two turnstile gates.

The nature of the invention will Ybe best understood by referance to a-n illustrative embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawing.

In said drawing:

Fig. 1 is a horizontal section of one illustrative structure embodying the invention, such section being taken on the line l-l of Fig, 2 and revealing a plan of the two turnstiles with their respective cage sections and interposed barrier structure.

Fig. 2 is a iront elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section view of another illustrative structure embodying the invention.

Figs. 4 and 5 are views of different forms of barrier structures which may be used, for example, in place fof the barrier structure shown either lin Fig. `1 or in Fig. .3.

It will fbe understood that kthe J*following description with reference to the specific structures selected for illustration is not to be taken as vlimiting the invention vthereto nor rotherwise than as .donned by the claims ,appended to the description. Y

Referring to lthe illustrative structure shown in Figs.v lV yand `2, twin turnstiles .are Vhere representedby the rotatable .posts :Ill and H .carrying .the radiating `horizontally disposed. .arms 4l 2 and i3 respectively; the arms of each turnstile being arranged to provide a series .of revolving haines, 4each baite `comprising .a `set of such .arms one vabove another. Thebales of .therespective turnstiles sweep through .the respective pedestrian passages le and ,l5 between the .centers .of .the turnstilesand the .cage seg-ments I5 and'l'l assoelated therewith. The twoturnstiles Ymay be independently freely rotatable in opposite directions, permittingthe passage of pedestrian traffic in -two iiles .or lines. To prevent reverse rotation of the tnrnstiles, they may be-provided with any appropriate ratchet means, asis well understood in .the-art. Assuming .the two lines of traine tobe passing through the gate structure in the .directions indicated .b'ythe arrows, lthe entrance ends ofthe respective trafc passages are between the .three spaced fixedlposts L8, I9, 20, ,and the exit ends :of `such passages .are between the three spaced iixed .posts .21., 2.2,@23.

It will be observed that theillustrative struc,- ture comprises confronting cage sections whose ends atthe Xed posts i8, 2l! and 121,23 are spaced apart .only about twice the width of single pedestrian passage, while the space `between the cage sections .is .occupied Yby the two Aturnstil'es which are in interlapping juxtaposition; the centers of the turnstiles .being spaced apart a distancesubstantiallyless than the diam-eter vthough greater than the .radius of anindividual turnstiie. As shown more clearly in Fig. 2, the planes of revolution Ao'l the baiile ,arms Ait. of one `turnstile are in staggered .relation to por Voiifset from the planes of revolution of thebaie arms i3 of ythe other turnstile. Thus the two turnstiles have intermingling portions in the sense that their respective arms, by virtue of their interjacent arrangement as shown in Fig. 2, traverse a space common to the two turnstiles.

Guarding the space traversed in common by the arms of the two turnstiles is a xed grilllike barrier structure, represented in this instance by the posts I9 and 22 and connecting pairs of horizontal ribs or bars 24, said pairs of bars 24 being arranged one above another and suitably spaced to permit arms of the respective turnstiles to pass through the interstices between the bars, as, for example, in accordance with the arrangement shown in Fig 2. As represented in Fig. 1, the barrier structure is of generally diamond form in horizontal section. Such type of barrier structure may be of various specic forms or constructions. For example, the pairs of horizontal barrier bars shown in Figs. 1 and 2 might be replaced by pairs of elements such as shown in 25 in Fig. 4, these elements being carried one above the other by the posts I9 and 22. As shown in Fig. 5, the pairs of bars of a barrier structure of the form shown in Fig. 1 may be connected by cross braces 26. Still another barrier structure of generally similar character but dilerent form is shown in Fig. 3.

In the structure shown in Fig. 1, the arms of each turnstile are arranged to provide three radiating baiiles spaced 1210 degrees apart, as is desirable to facilitate the passing of pedestrian traic through the gate structure, the angular spaces between the baiiles being ample to allow pedestrians carrying handbags to pass through the structure between the revolving bafes without being hit by the following baffles. The arrangement shown in Fig. 1 is also especially desirable for compactness since it permits the centers of the two turnstiles to be spaced apart a distance only slightly greater than a turnstile radius.

The gate structure shown in Fig. 3 is similar in principle to that already described. In Fig. 3, the parts corresponding to those in Figs. 1 and 2 are the two turnstiles comprising rotary posts I I and III', carrying the radiating baffle arms II2 and H3; said turnstiles being in interlapping juxtaposition as already explained, and occupying the space between the cage segments H6 and II'I; and the space traversed in common by the interjacent arms of the two turnstiles being guarded by a grill-like barrier structure. Said barrier structure in Fig. 3 comprises diverging pairs of arms or bars |24 carried one above another by the posts H9 and |22. In the construction shown in Fig. 3 the radiating arms of the turnstiles are arranged to provide four baiiles for each turnstile, the centers of the two turnstiles being spaced somewhat further apart than in Fig. 1 but a substantially less distance apart than the diameter of an individual turnstile.

Either of the structures represented in Figs. 1 and 3 occupies substantially less ground area and width of corridor space than would be required for two ordinary turnstile gates; the saving of space being in the case of Fig. 1 about one-third and in the case of Fig. 3 about one-fourth; or in other words the structure of Fig. 1 is only about one and one-half times as broad as a single turnstile gate, and that of Fig. 2 only about one and three-fourths as broad as a single turnstile gate. The installation of either of the structures requires somewhat less construction material than ordinarily required for two turnstile gates. The structure is convenient and attractive in use, permitting persons walking side by side to pass close to one another through the two turnstiles.

The invention does not depend upon specific mechanical forms or details of construction of the turnstiles and correlated parts, and may be applied to structures in which the turnstiles are rotatable either in one direction, both directions, or in only the opposite directions, to suit different requirements and conditions as to traic to be controlled.

I claim:

1. A twin gate structure comprising confronting cage segments, a pair of interlapping turnstiles occupying the space therebetween, said turnstiles comprising radiating arms in interjacent planes, and an interposed barrier structure comprising posts in front and rear of the interlapping portions of said turnstiles and superposed barrier bars carried by and extending between said posts in planes interjacent with the planes of revolution of the turnstile arms, said barrier bars and posts forming a barrier structure gradually increasing in width from the posts to the transverse center of the gate structure and substantially occupying the space traversed in common by the two turnstiles, said turnstiles being centered adjacent to the opposite sides of the widest portion of said barrier structure.

2. A twin gate structure comprising confronting cage segments, a pair of interlapping turnstiles occupying the space therebetween, said turnstiles comprising radiating arms in interjacent planes, and an interposed barrier structure comprising posts in front and rear of the interlapping portions of said turnstiles and barrier bars arranged in superposed pairs carried by and extending between said posts, the barrier bars 0f said pairs diverging from said posts to the transverse center of the gate structure and arranged in planes interjacent with the planes of revolution of the turnstile arms, said turnstiles being centered adjacent to the opposite sides of the widest portion of said barrier structure and the latter substantially enclosing the space transversed in common by the arms of the two turnstiles.

3. A twin gate structure comprising confronting cage segments, a pair of interlapping turnstiles occupying the space therebetween, said turnstiles comprising radiating arms in interjacent planes, and an interposed barrier structure comprising posts in front and rear of the interlapping portions of said turnstiles and superposed barrier bars carried by and extending between said posts and diverging therefrom to the transverse center of the gate structure and arranged in planes interjacent with the planes of revolution of the turnstile arms, said turnstiles being centered at opposite sides of the widest portion of said barrier structure and the latter substantially enclosing the space transversed in common by the arms of the respective turnstiles, the centers of the turnstiles being outside of the barrier structure.

RUDOLPH F. KELKER, Jn. 

